This book is a comprehensive overview of several major schools of sociological theory. Looking at various approaches from different cultural contexts, Abraham first explains conflicting views about the meaning of sociological theory itself, then analyzes the basic sociological concepts of "system," "structure," "function," and "conflict", and the methodology of sociological theory. Designed to familiarize students with contemporary schools of theory--including the most recent trends--the book clearly defines structural functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, and phenomenological sociology.